In The Flowers

[Stardust]

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[atrb=background,http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn15/stephers1995/Aneirin---MIDDLE.png] Aneirin felt a soaring in his head as he loped slowly and softly into the meadows before him. It buzzed deep within his skull, pleasantly, not quite a dizziness but a rushing sweetness, and he felt his pupils contracting as his blue eyes widened to take in more of the sunlight and beauty. He found himself wondering how he'd lived for so long in the mountains. How had he dealt with the stony grayness, the lack of life, of company? Granted, he wasn't too much better off for company yet. It was a comfort to be in an inhabited place once more, but so far the other Enchanted wolves seemed to be solitary creatures. For the better, perhaps; better that than the squabbling and tears that seemed to come with the more earth-bound packs, leading them into war. He feared that war, deeply, despite Valentino's assurances that he would not be called on to fight. The big-bodied, big-hearted wolf grieved deeply at any form of hurt, and all he had learned to heal thus far were the hurts of the mind and the minor ills of the body. Things you could cure with talk, and touch, and herbs. Herbs! That, at least, he did not lack in his new home. Though Aneirin had an almost painfully deep love for other living, breathing, thinking creatures, he often found his deepest pleasures with the living, breathing, calmly present plants of the earth. He had smelled them and spotted several patches from the shores of the lake when he first came into the land, but that had been merely a sampler compared to the riches he found here. Following his salt-and-peppered nose, he found himself in the middle of a large swath of arnica. He stepped as delicately as possible with his big paws, taking in their sweet, slightly acrid smell from the few stems he crushed, watching their bright yellow heads bobbing, dancing stars in the green. Though he had yet to establish a den for himself, he bent his head down and began picking small bunches; arnica was always useful. He picked carefully, selecting from different areas of the patch so as not to deplete it, looking for fairly mature blooms that had already shared their pollen and would dry nicely. Absorbed in his task, he was probably not very aware of the image he made. Like almost all the plants here, the arnica flowers grew tall, tall enough to reach his middle. With his head down, only his rump and swaying, bushy tail were visible, though in his quiet pleasure he could be heard humming around the herbs. The sound was a low, rich bass, coming in and out as he paused for breath or to grasp another stalk, rather like an immense, melodic bumblebee.

[ShyneOnMe]

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[atrb=background,http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/ac192/fireb4ashes/Pepper-Sleepy---MIDDLE.png] Pepper had always enjoyed going to the meadow that made up part of her home packlands. The young Healer often came to the meadow to unwind or find herbs that she preferred. Today though was all about relaxation and finding the bottomless calm that she needed in order to help others without snapping at them for the sometimes idiotic things that they did. Pepper wasn't often one to raise her voice to another but even she had her limits. After all no one was perfect; despite what her often irratating brother seemed to believe. But Salt was a matter for another day, now Pepper only thought of her own happiness for a rare moment. So she'd come to one of the quietest places on Enchanted lands and decided she would stay awhile and enjoy herself in the silence. Later she'd make a list of what she needed. Later she'd go and locate those she taught and give them the lesson they wanted. But for right now, she simply reached the meadow, sat down among the long grass, and basked in the silence. She was unaware that her sanctuary was already occupied by another. It wouldn't be long though before they became aware of each other. Word Count: 205

[Stardust]

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[atrb=background,http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn15/stephers1995/Aneirin---MIDDLE.png] Flowers and plants are made for reproducing themselves. Arnica didn't tend to have long stamens, but the flowers did have long petals and plentiful pollen in their exposed hearts--preserved even this late in the season by Enchanted's unseasonably pleasant weather. A good portion of one flower's pollen traveled up Aneirin's nose as he ducked his head again, and he swiftly lifted his face above the flowers, snorting vigorously. He managed to avoid an outright sneeze, but his eyes still watered, and he took a moment to clear them, the beauty of the meadow slowly swimming into focus. To his surprise, when it did, he found he was no longer alone. A femme sat in the flowers not far off, a peaceful look on her face as the sunlight warmed her, striking brightly off of creamy white fur. He smiled around the herbs at the look of tranquility she bore. It seemed a shame to disturb her, but it would be impolite to remain close by without alerting her of his presence--and at any rate, he wanted to get to know more of his pack mates. Recalling the arnica still bunched in his mouth, he stepped just outside of the patch of flowers, on the side closest to the she-wolf, and placed them down where he could easily find them again. Heedless of the yellow dusting of pollen on his pale muzzle, he sat down as well, smiling openly. "It doesn't take much to see that you're also in Enchanted, but I haven't met you yet," he said, voice bearing the same cool, gentle quality it almost always did, like a slow-moving stream on a hot day. "I'm Aneirin."

[ShyneOnMe]

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[atrb=background,http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/ac192/fireb4ashes/Pepper-Sleepy---MIDDLE.png] Pepper shifted and turned at the sound of someone approaching her. A gentle and calm smile lit her face when he spoke. "Yes I am also of Enchanted. My name is Pepper and I am a Healer for the Pack. It is very much my pleasure to meet you Aneirin." She gave the larger wolf a once over before settling back down among the plants she so loved. She didn't really know this wolf but he didn't feel dangerous to her so she would stay where she was and simply enjoy having company for once that wasn't expecting anything from her. Not that Pepper didn't enjoy her work, because she did, but sometimes she had trouble continuing each day with how much was going on. It was like a never-ending flow of patients for her to tend and care for and with the war this wasn't likely to cease any time in the immediate future. She did worry for those she knew that had entered the war and for the fate of her Pack and its members. So far Valentino had kept them out of the war, only offering the aid of his pack's Healers, but Pepper couldn't help but wonder how long that would last. It was why she came to this place so often. Thoughts like these made her very stressed so that, even with company, she could barely function for the violence of it. She was a Healer, she wasn't meant to handle such things as war. Yet she would, for as long as it took. Word Count: 257